“I hadn’t done any running since school days but the National Osteoporosis Society was advertising places in the marathon and I thought I’d give it a go,” he said.

People can donate at justgiving.com/ChrisMetcalfe01.

Keighley nursery nurse Lee Asquith is taking part in the event in support of Children with Cancer UK.

“I’ve done 10k runs for a couple of charities before and have always wanted to take on a bigger challenge,” said Lee, a former pupil of Oakbank School in Keighley. Visit virginmoney giving.com/LeeAsquith to donate.

Stockbridge resident Carl Whale is running in aid of Lupus UK.

His mother, Avis Turner, died from the immune system illness.

Mr Whale, who has run one previous marathon for the same good cause, said: “Lupus imitates other illnesses, which is why it can take so long to diagnose.

“It took three years for my mum to be diagnosed, so this is something that needs to be more widely recognised.”